Designing a business support programme for high-growth start-ups

Supporting regional economic development

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How can we increase the number of high-growth potential businesses in North East England?

The North East Local Economic Partnership (NELEP) commissioned Urban Foresight to help increase the number of high-growth potential start-ups in North East England.

Urban Foresight’s approach built on academic and applied understanding of entrepreneurship, innovation and business support.

It also drew on Urban Foresight’s practical experience of delivering innovation support programmes in North East England and wider expertise in economic regeneration.

A three-phase research programme of desk research, online surveys and face-to-face interviews collected insights from entrepreneurs who had successfully started high-growth businesses.

This provided valuable insights on the motivations, characteristics and success factors cited by founders.

An important finding was the key role of business partners in providing additional skills, contacts and motivational support to unlock the growth potential of start-ups.

A further challenge was the need to overcome cultural and financial barriers faced in deciding whether to start a new business.

These findings were translated into a series of recommendations for the Local Enterprise Partnership to design a bespoke programme of support for entrepreneurs.

In 2019, NELEP launched the High Potential Start-ups programme, which put into action the recommendations made by Urban Foresight.

Sector Expertise

Maximising the opportunities for employment and wealth creation and helping to establish the necessary governance, policy and capital funding to make this possible

Understanding the implications of public policy and developing recommendations to support policy and legislative change

Assessing the skills needed by different sectors, current educational provision and identifying proposals for action

What We Delivered

We reimagine services in order to create new economic value and meet customer needs in new ways. 

Practical insights and evidence to support decision-making, policy development and the case for investments

Professional engagement with relevant stakeholders and experts to uncover key insights and identify shared priorities 

We write award winning reports that are concise, logical and engaging